Glad I'm not the only one!

I am so glad today is the day after yesterday.

I have dreaded yesterday for nearly a year, after last year's Board of Ordained Ministry interviews were so stressful. Last year I did fine in three of the four interviews, but the fourth one (actually the first one) was horrible-- the chair of the committee was -- to put it lightly-- verbally confrontive. He told me there was no God in my sacraments, and my service was dead. He said a pause of more than 2 seconds was indicative of a dead worship service, and when he was done berating and insulting me, asked if I had any questions; I couldn't verbalize what I was thinking in such esteemed company. That night I was called after 10:30 and asked to come back the next morning (meaning I had to find childcare for my kids until they went to school) and finally I agreed to return. I stayed up all night studying, and when I got there, the man asked if my worship leadership style was particular to that church, and when I said "yes," he said that everything was okay and that was that. How much stress for something so inconsequential!

Not only did I have to face that man yesterday, but I had to sit by him. However, this time, my mentor was in the room, and the chair was the minister of my hometown church, which for me was quite comforting. I just pretended the offender in question was a business person I had to have dealings with, and we got along quite famously. And last night at 9:30 I got the call that I had passed. Whewwww! Now I have to anticipate next year's interview, which is when they will ask if I have created the Sunday night program I told them I was contemplating. Some day I will learn to shut my mouth...